Martian Chronicles The 1980 CD2

I had a dream about a man.
He's not from our world.
He came down from the sky
and spoke to me.
He said, "We are from
the third planet.
We come from Earth."
Stay here.
We may have just lost
York and Conover.
And maybe not.
We can't stop now.
We're talking about an entire
planet that might be colonized.
Can I help you?
We are from Earth,
and this is Mars.
Young man,
this is Green Bluff, Illinois.
Then these people are not
my friends, not my family.
They're Martians.
Then what about me?
Then you're not
my brother, Edward.
No, Arthur, I'm not.
Your death will be painless,
Captain.
You couldn't disguise the air.
No, we couldn't disguise
the air.
I can't move.
Forgive us, Captain Black.
Two expeditions
have failed, John.
Why another?
Well?
That city of theirs has been dead
about 1,000 years.
Same applies for
three other cities in the hills.
But a fifth one... there were
Martians living there last week.
- Where are they now?
- They're dead.
Who were they, I wonder?
How did they live?
- Jeff?
- I'll be back.
Where you going?
Spender?
Where the hell have you been
for the last week?
I'm the last Martian.
You're the...
Dear God.
Is this the way
it's going to be?
You're looking at a picturebeing transmittedsome 60 million milesfrom a satellite cameraabove the planet Mars...
a picture of the firstspaceships to be dispatched
to the red planet since
Colonel John Wilder and his crew
left for Mars
almost three years ago.
I'm standing in the heart of
the Zeus mission control center
with General Malcolm Halstead,
commanding officer.
This is a big day
for Project Mars, General.
Yes, it is. We've waited
a long time for it,
but the colonizing fleet
is off at last.
Is there any expectation
of encountering life on Mars?
No, we don't anticipate that.
To our knowledge,
the plague destroyed all life.
That was a dreadful irony,
of course...
the germs which actually
started the plague
being carried there by
our first expeditions.
That's still a matter
of speculation, of course.
But in any event,
it was dreadful.
If you'll excuse me.
Thank you, General.
Now we see again the fleet
of spaceships approaching Mars.
Now the rockets comelike beating drums...
like silver locusts swarmingthrough the emptiness of space. And from the rockets come mento beat the strange worldinto a shape that is familiarto the eye. They come to find somethingor leave somethingor get something. To dig up somethingor bury somethingor leave something alone. To bludgeon awaythe strangeness. And Colonel Wilder becomeschief coordinator of the planet Marshoping that perhaps he can savesome remnantof the old Martian civilizationfrom the advancing thunderof human feet. It all happens so quickly. So like the technocrats of Earthwho have been transplantedto this strange alienenvironment. they build their homesto blot out the stars. using the all-purpose modulesdesigned by computersfor this or any other purpose. They plant polesto carry power. dig trenches to burywater pipes. scrape away the land for roadsand then pave overthe Martian landscape. In six months. A dozencommunities were laid downon the naked planet. They come to Mars to puttheir names upon the land. The place where the Martianskilled the first Earth manis called York Plain. Where the second expeditionwas destroyed is called Blackville. Then there is Wilder Mountain. Spender Hill. Briggs Canal. And Lustig Creek. Some come to findthe unattainable. For each man. It is different. Leif Lustig is searchingfor the unattainable.
Anna!
First rain this season!
Almost like back home.
- Are you homesick?
- No.
Let's get inside. It's cold!
- It's good to have a fire.
- Yeah.
- Only one thing missing.
- Oh, please, Leif, please.
All right. I won't start up
again. I'm sorry.
At least we're here
where he died.
I know.
I won't speak of it anymore.
- No, it's my turn.
- You're cheating. It's my turn.
Keep your hands off.
Now I get you.
Now you have this one.
- Did you hear something?
- Like what?
Someone whistling.
Who's there?
Who is it?
What do you want?!
Who are you?
- Leif?
- Yes?
Why are you shouting?
Come here! Quickly!
What is it?
Who is it?
A young man.
He looks like David.
He does look like David,
doesn't he?
No. No.
Go away.
Go away.
What are you doing?
Come to bed.
Lock the door.
If it's you...
if by some chance... it is you...
if you're cold
and want to warm yourself...
I'll leave the door unlatched.
Just come in and...
- Leif?
- Yes?
- Come to bed.
- All right.
- Don't forget to lock the door.
- No.
- You're all wet.
- I'm sorry. I get the towel.
No, you stay.
It's a terrible night.
It's all right.
Go to sleep.
What if it is him?
You know it can't be.
My God.
Am I losing my mind?
I'm losing my mind.
Morning, Father.
It's a nice day.
David? You are alive?
Why shouldn't I be?
But the second expedition
disappeared...
all of you, the ship.
We came from Earth to try
and find you... we never did.
I don't understand.
You want me to be here,
don't you?
Of course, but...
Then why ask questions?
Just accept.
But your mother...
the shock.
Don't worry.
I sang to both of you last night.
It'll help you to accept me more.
Especially her.
I know what shock is, Father.
Great God, I slept so long!
Good morning, David,
good morning, Leif.
You set the table.
How sweet of you.
See?
I put the kettle on,
and you help me make breakfast.
- Okay.
- Come.
Here, my darling.
I get you some more
hot coffee, all right?
You can't be David.
But you are someone.
Who?
Don't.
You can tell me...
Here, my darling.
- You finished?
- Yes, Mama.
Okay. Thank you.
- Listen to me.
- Please.
There's something about you.
You are David,
and yet you are not.
Why can't you accept me?
Tell me who you are!
Where's David?
- Has he gone outside?
- Yes.
Good.
Do you remember anything
about the second expedition?
About them never returning?
Yes, of course, but what has it
got to do with David?
Among the manywho came to Marswere a handful of missionariesto prepare those on the new planetfor the reception of God's truth. For Father Peregrine. it was a quest for God himself.
Lord, we have come
to a new land.
We shall need new eyes.
We shall hear new sounds,
must needs have new ears.
And there will be new sins,
for which we ask the gift
of better and firmer
and purer hearts.
Amen.
Welcome to Mars.
- Father Peregrine?
- Yes.
- Father Stone.
- Hello.
John Wilder.
Let me take your bag.
How did you like space travel?
It was absolutely remarkable.
- More?
- Delicious meal.
- Thank you very much.
- Excellent.
All right, kids,
time for bed.
- Do we have to?
- Yes.
Good night, Daddy.
Good night, sweetheart.
Say good night to our guests.
Good night, my dear.
- Good night, Mom.
- Good night. Sleep well.
Can I have your plate?
- There you are.
- Thanks.
Can I ask you something,
Mr. Wilder?
Certainly.
There was a rumor
on the ship...
one of the crewmen
spoke of it...
that some prospector
broke both his legs
up in the Martian hills
and would've died there
except that something like
spheres of light came at him.
When he woke up, he was lying
by the side of the road
and was rescued?
Spheres of light?
You mean, a form of life?
Yes, that was the rumor.
That has not been substantiated.
- Coffee?
- Yes.
There is no scientific evidence
of any life here.
Pity. All destroyed
by a child's disease,
obliterating an entire civilization.
- Yes.
- Then you think as I think...
that there's absolutely
no truth to this rumor?
I do.
It would've been so good
to exchange ideas with Martians.
Yes, it would've been.
But I'm afraid all that remains
of life on Mars
are the cities they left behind.
Do you think it would
be possible for us to see them?
Yes. Tomorrow morning.
Thank you.
We're very glad
to have you here.
There's a great need of you
on Mars.
Mars is like a frontier
like in the Old West or in Alaska.
There are hundreds of miners,
laborers, mechanics
in our first 12 communities.
And they're in great need
of spiritual guidance.
Oh, yes.
Is it possible that
the colonization process
has been too abrupt...
too headlong?
I wish it could be
slowed down.
Too many mistakes
are being made.
People taking advantage
of what's going on,
bringing things from Earth
I'd hoped they left behind...
graft, corruption,
bureaucracy. Pity.
You're thinking of that man
we spoke of, aren't you?
- What was his name?
- Yeah. Spender.
Spender. Yes.
You feel responsible
to do what he asked...
to prevent men from...
what did he say...
tearing apart the planet?
I do feel responsible, Father.
I'm going to tell you something
I've never told anyone before,
except my wife.
When I was with Spender,
and he was telling me about
his plan to kill everyone
who came here
in order to save this planet,
I remember telling him
I couldn't believe it was he
saying those things.
And I recalled a strange look
on his face
when I asked him if
there were any Martians left.
"A few," he said.
I've been wondering about it
ever since.
That rumor you spoke of last
night made me wonder again.
Wondering what?
Well...
if it were really Spender
I was talking to,
or if it were someone
or some thing...
that had taken him over.
You think it's still possible
there are Martians?
I'd like to think so, Father.
These are the oldest remnants
of Martian culture
we've discovered to date.
Our archaeologists estimate they date back
over 250 million years.
They look like some ancient ruins
I've seen on Earth.
Makes you wonder if there
might not have been a common ancestry
between Mars and Earth.
What's going on?
They're dismantling this structure
for shipment back to Earth.
Perhaps your friend Spender
was right.
Didn't he predict
all this would happen?
Yes.
Surely there's nothing wrong
in sending back to Earth
examples of this remarkable
civilization.
It goes deeper than that.
This is exactly what Spender
was trying to prevent...
tearing up the planet.
These ruins
belong to another race.
What race? Where are they?
- I don't know.
- Nobody knows, Father.
I looked
after the Spender incident.
I scoured this planet
for signs of life. Nothing.
Yet the feeling that they're here,
watching, persists.
I can't explain it.
It's time we went back
to First Town.
How about some lunch?
Good idea.
If you don't mind, we'd rather
like to walk back on our own.
- Walk?
- Yes.
We'd like to see
more of the landscape.
- Positive?
- Oh, yes.
- Which way is First Town?
- Right...
- We'll find it.
- By ourselves?
You want to stay
close to the road.
I'll send a vehicle back
in a few hours.
No, we'll be fine.
Hopefully.
I'll send a vehicle back anyway
just in case you change your mind.
- Why didn't we go with him?
- Not yet.
We should never have
left that road.
Never have left that road.
- We'll be all right.
- All right? We are lost.
- Keep the faith, Father.
- I shall keep the faith.
- It does have its limits.
- Not at all.
I'm sure that First Town's
just over those hills.
You've been saying that
all afternoon.
The sun is going down and soon.
What'll we do then... pray?
Who knows if we'll even be heard
on this outlandish planet?
We'll be all right.
God is everywhere.
I certainly hope so,
because this is nowhere.
We are lost.
We are quite hopelessly lost.
Do you think perhaps if we shouted
"Hello," they might reply?
Who?
You still haven't given up
that rumor, have you?
You still hope
it might be true.
- Well...
- That is what we are doing out here.
Father Peregrine,
don't you know
how much work there is
to be done on Mars?
There are at least a dozen
communities of sinners
in need of redemption,
and here we are,
roaming all over
the Martian countryside
because of some ridiculous rumor.
Well?
- Father Peregrine?
- Wait.
Monsters!
No, wait.
I knew we shouldn't
have come here.
No, don't be afraid.
- This is the work of the devil.
- No, it's not.
Please, Father, let us go!
I must speak to them.
No, Father, please, no.
Hello.
We come with God.
Father, don't!
No, wait! Come back!
Come back!
Now look what you've done.
- What happened?
- The blue lights lifted us.
- No, they couldn't.
- Yes, they did. They saved us.
They saved our lives.
No, Father. We ran.
You know that's not true.
They saved our lives.
It proves that they have souls.
Father, they're not human.
Perhaps not, but I feel
something about them.
I know a great revelation
is at hand.
They saved our lives.
They think... they had a choice...
let us die or rescue us.
That proves they have free will.
Gotta stay here.
- Stay here?
- Spend the night.
Perhaps they'll come back.
You are risking the entire
missionary expedition
just so these inhuman...
Can't you recognize
the human in the inhuman?
I would rather recognize
the inhuman in the human.
Help me get a fire started.
The air is chilling.
I'm hungry.
We can get food
in the morning.
In the morning?
We should be back in First Town
instead of sitting around here
waiting for something ludicrous.
What if I proved
these creatures know sin...
that they know a moral life
and have free will
and intellect?
That would take some proving.
But they may well have killed
the members
of the first two expeditions.
Isn't that sin?
There must've been
an original sin on Mars.
A Martian Adam and Eve,
if you like.
Father, are you thinking
of the church,
or merely trying to quench
your own thirst of curiosity?
Are you thinking of our work
or personally converting Martians?
That would be a sin of pride.
I know it.
But many prideful things are done
out of love for our Lord.
One is not supposed to.
Do you know, Father, at one time,
my motivation in joining the church
was to meet Christ in person?
Yes.
I refuse to believe you.
Yes, actually in person.
I don't care
what your problems are.
My problem is I need
those two reactors desperately.
Don't give me a hard time
about customs and permits.
You sound like
you're back on Earth.
Hold it. Yes?
Your call to General Halsteadis ready. Sir.
Thank you.
Do what you can.
I'll get back to you tomorrow.
- General?
- John. How are you?
A bit frazzled as we speak.
I'm sending out a search party
for two wandering missionaries.
That's not why I called.
Let me guess. You want to badger me againabout immigration.
Exactly.
General, you must get them
to exercise a little more discretion.
The great majority of relocators
are first-rate,
but a few more troublemakers
have slipped through.
I'll see what I can do. but you know the situationhere on Earth. Applications to relocateare coming in so fast. we can't process them. If things get any worse. I may putin for a transfer myself.
Let me know. Ruth and I would love
to have you as neighbors.
Good-bye, General.
George, I'd like an update
on that search party.
There's still no word onthose two missionaries. Sir.
Thank you.
You are aware, aren't you?
I know you are.
But how to prove it?
You're following me, aren't you...
watching me?
Bet you know
what I'm thinking.
Will the Lord understand
that I'm doing this for Him?
You saved me.
You wouldn't let me die.
You knew it was wrong.
You know. You understand.
Listen to me, please.
My missionaries and I
will build a church in these hills.
Instead of a cross,
a blue sphere will represent
the Martian Christ.
We will live with you, and we
will help you to discover God.
No. Father Peregrine.
You speak.
You know my name.
Listen to my voice now. Father Peregrine. We are the Old Ones. We left our marble citieslong ago and went to the hills. Once. We had bodiessuch as yours. Then we learnedto free ourselvesand so took on the lookof blue globes. We have lived in the windsand sky since then. apart from thosewe left behind. How we came to behas been forgotten. but we shall never die. We have put awaythe weaknesses of the bodyand live in the graceof that being whom you call God. We covet no one's property. we do not steal. nor kill nor lust nor hate. We have left sin behind. We thank you for the thoughtof building us a church. but we have no need of it. for each of us is a templeunto himself. Build your church amongyour own kind and cleanse them. We are at peace.
Come on, Father Stone,
can't sleep all day.
- Please.
- Got a long journey ahead of us.
So we can go further
into the hills?
Oh, no. I know
the way back now.
I'm gonna stay here
until we're found.
From here, we can see for miles.
From here, we can signal or...
Wait a minute.
What do you mean,
you know the way back now?
What is it?
I saw them again.
They were hovering above us
as we slept.
I felt certain
that they were intelligent,
they were aware,
they were understanding.
So I stepped off the cliff.
- You what?
- I stepped off the cliff.
I knew they would know that
it was wrong for me to do so
and that they would
stop me.
And they did, Father Stone.
They knew it was wrong,
and they saved me.
We've got to get back
to the town.
Mr. Wilder'll
be worried about us.
Father, wait! Father!
Wait a minute. Wait! Father!
Please, Father, wait.
Father.
There is something
I don't understand.
lf. as you say,
these globes softened your fall...
why did they
just leave you there?
I suppose I could've asked them
to take me back, but...
somehow, I didn't have the heart,
not after what I heard.
- Heard?
- Yes, a voice. It spoke to me.
I had said that I would
build a church in the hills
with a blue globe
in place of a cross.
Father, what are you saying?
I'll tell you later.
- A voice?
- Yes, a voice.
His voice, Father Stone.
His voice.
And so. Father Peregrineleaves the placewhere he had seen and heardthe Old Ones of Mars. thinking that there is truthon every planet...
all parts of a larger truth...
and men will go onto other worlds as welladding together the partsof the overall truthuntil the glorious totalstands before themlike the light of a new day. All their journeyswill have ended then. They will be at Home.
Leif, I'm worried about David.
Where do you think he went?
He can't have gone to town...
the boat is here.
Don't worry. He'll be back.
If he isn't home soon,
you'd better look for him.
All right.
Are you going to ask me
who I am?
Good.
Where have you been?
Near First Town.
I almost got caught.
Caught?
I don't want to talk about it.
We won't, then.
Wash up, son,
it's suppertime.
All right. Mama?
- Where have you been?
- I went for a long walk.
You went for a long walk,
and I worry for you.
- I'm sorry.
- All right, you're sorry.
- Leif, supper is on. Come.
- All right.
No, have some more.
What did you do this afternoon?
- Nothing. Why?
- No reason. Just curious.
You know what we do
this evening?
We all go into town.
We haven't been there
in months.
I'll stay home if you
don't mind, Mama.
- Why?
- Just don't feel like going.
Course you do.
We all can use a night out.
I'd rather not.
And why?
I'm afraid of the town.
You're afraid of the town?
But, David...
The people.
I'd just rather not.
Nonsense.
I've never heard such nonsense.
Of course we all go, don't we?
Anna, if the boy
doesn't want to go...
Please, let it be a family
evening just for once.
It's been such a long time.
Anna, if he doesn't want to,
let's go another time.
No. I've made up my mind.
We go this evening.
Lock the door.
Stay close, Father.
I don't want to get caught.
Nobody is going to catch you.
Except maybe a pretty girl,
and I'm going to be very jealous.
Thank you.
- Stay by me, please.
- I will. We won't stay long.
- I hope not.
- Leif!
Come.
Father...
- It's happening.
- What?
Come over here.
There's so much to see. Come!
All right. We are coming.
Where's David?
Where is that boy?
Why don't you go to a cafe?
I'll look for him.
I don't understand him
anymore.
If I have trouble finding him,
I'll see you by the boat
in an hour or so.
Are you all right?
All right.
- Mr. Wilder?
- Yes?
I don't know whether
you remember me or not.
My name is Lustig.
I'm living on the canal
with my wife.
- Yes, Mr. Lustig. How are you?
- My son is missing.
- How young is he?
- 24.
Twenty... well.
He's missing, Mr. Wilder.
How long has he been missing?
Since we came into town
tonight.
- He could be anywhere.
- It isn't like that.
There is something wrong.
I see.
- What is his name?
- David.
David Lustig?
Are you by any chance
related to the David Lustig
of the second expedition?
Yes, you and your wife
came up here in search...
That must've been
another David Lustig.
Yes. You are probably right,
Mr. Wilder.
He's full grown. He's probably
wandering around somewhere.
I go check again.
I'm sorry to have bothered you.
Mr. Lustig, perhaps l...
It was foolish of me
to come here.
You are right, of course.
He's 24.
He'll be wandering around.
24?
David Lustig was 24.
Mr. Lustig!
Is someone there?
No, no, no, no.
No, it can't be.
Enough!
You're trembling.
Let me go.
Let you go?
But no one keeps you here.
Yes. You do.
What?
Avert your gaze.
The more you look,
the more I become this!
I am not what I seem.
I am not that vision.
I didn't mean to come here.
I was in the town square.
One thing, I lost hold,
and suddenly, I was many things
to many people.
I ran, and they followed.
I fled in here.
Then you came in,
and I was trapped.
Oh, yes! Trapped!
You're not... what you seem?
Forgive me.
I wish that I might be,
but I cannot.
- I'm going mad.
- Oh, no!
Or I go down in madness
with you.
Release me!
I can't...
...dear Lord,
not when you've finally come.
2,000 years we've waited
for your return.
Now I'm the one that sees you
and hears you speak.
You see nothing but your own
dream... your own needs.
Beneath all this,
I am another thing.
But what am I to do?
Look away from me,
and at that moment, I'll be gone.
Gone?
Or you'll kill me!
Or I'll kill you.
If you force me into this guise
much longer, I will die.
It is more than I can hold.
Who are you then?
You know.
That?
No more, no less.
And I have made you like this
with my thoughts?
When you came into the church,
you looked at the crucifix.
Your old dream of meeting Him
seized you once again.
It seized me.
My body still bleeds
from the wounds you gave me
with your secret mind.
Oh, Lord!
Oh, my sweet Lord.
Go, before I keep you here
forever.
Father Peregrine.
- Excuse me, Father...
- I was just on my way to see you.
What is it?
Do you remember telling me about your
crewman who believed in Martians?
- What was his name?
- Spender.
You said you wondered
if you were really talking to him,
or to something
that had taken him over.
Yes.
Well, it may not
have been him at all,
mentally or physically.
What are you saying?
I'm saying
he may have been a Martian.
- There's one in First Town right now.
- What?!
One who can make people think
that he looks like anyone
they have in mind. Anyone.
How do you know?
Because I saw him.
That is, I...
Believe me, John, he is here.
Hello there, Lustig.
Mike Atterbury.
- Good evening, Mike.
- Care to come and sit a while?
No, I'm looking for something.
- You lost something, have you?
- Yes, l...
Speaking of lost things,
you remember
Joe Spaulding's girl Lavinnia?
Yes.
Everyone thought
she was drowned in the canal.
They found what they thought
was her body,
and it was all beat up.
Joe, he started telling everyone
it wasn't her,
and she was still alive.
What?
Guess he was right.
Lavinnia showed up tonight.
Showed up where?
Oak Street, by the church.
Spauldings were walking home
from downtown
when all of a sudden, there was Lavinnia,
running towards them.
She didn't recognize them
at first.
They had to call to her.
Then she remembered.
Where is she now?
Home, I guess.
Isn't that incredible?
Who's there?
It's me... your father.
David!
Please go.
There's nothing you can do.
You have got to come home.
Your mother's waiting.
We should never
have come into town.
My wife will die
if you don't come back.
She couldn't bear to lose you
for a second time.
I'm sorry, but the thoughts
in this house are strong.
I can't change back.
They are a family of five.
They can stand your loss better.
I'm tired, weak.
You have got to come back.
I won't let Anna be hurt again.
You belong to us.
Please, don't do this to me.
Come down!
You will be safer living
outside of town, you know that.
There'll only be us.
We'll never
come into town again.
Who's down there?
Vinnie? Come back inside.
Don't stop!
Don't stop!
Please!
Hurry!
Stop! No!
Hurry, David!
No! Lavinnia, come back!
Lustig, I got a gun!
Go down that alley
and run to the boat.
I'll lead him off.
Lustig, listen to me.
He's not what you think he is.
Let me go!
You don't understand.
You can't shoot him!
Dexter!
Anna, get in the boat.
David's coming.
- Where is he?
- He'll be here right away.
- There he is.
- David! Come!
- Lustig!
- In the boat!
- You're comin' home with me.
- Wait a minute!
This man's my prisoner.
The man's wanted for murder.
No, this is my husband!
- No, no, that's my Lavinnia.
- No, it's David!
- He's my prisoner.
- No, it's David!
Stop it. He's a Martian!
You don't understand!
Have you heard the news
from Earth?
There's going to be a war.
Wilder's mind is a confusionof troubled thoughts...
thoughts aboutthe dead Martianwho might've taught them somethingof the planet they're living on. Thoughts of the planetthey had left behind. The world about to faceits final war. Negotiations have completelybroken down. The President has declared all linesof communication mutually severed. which leaves the worldan armed and waiting campwith all military forceson full alert.
I don't believe it.
I just don't believe it.
John, talk to me.
What are we going to do?
I know what I have to do.
I'm going back to Earth
and get my brother and his family
up here where it's safe.
But you can't.
George, get me my brother
at Mission Control.
Why can't they come up here
on the next shuttle?
Because there won't be
another shuttle.
They may never know
what hit them.
All right, then we'll go home
together, as a family.
No, Ruth.
Don't you understand?
This may be the only home
our family will ever know again.
If what you say is true,
then we'll be cut off... isolated.
Forgotten.
There may be no one left on Earth
to forget us.
That's why I have to reach Bill,
why I've got to save him.
- Wilder here.
- Bill, it's John.
What in the hell
is going on down there?
John. It's all over. Everything's fallen apart.
I'm coming down
to get you and the family.
John. You can't. Congress has just cut the entirebudget for space exploration. All our resourcesare gone to defense. The president'sgoing to close down the colony. Halstead's probably tryingto get through to you right now.
I'm bringing you up here
if I have to drag you up here.
We know enough about Mars
for a small group
to support life here.
So hang in there.
- But...
- Good-bye.
Wilder makes a final effortto warn remote colonistsof the coming evacuation. But Sam Parkhill's dreamof making his fortune on Marshas become an obsession.
Hello? Anybody here?
Come on in, partner.
What can I do for... Colonel?
Sam?
Colonel Wilder?
How in the hell are ya?
I'm fine.
- You?
- I just couldn't be better.
You're a sight for sore eyes.
So are you.
You gotta give the folks
what they expect.
I haven't seen you
in nearly three years.
Wait a minute here.
Turn this darn thing off.
Elma, come on out here.
I want you to meet somebody.
- Come on.
- All right.
Hurry up.
This is Colonel Wilder,
the man I've told you so much about.
Oh, yeah.
It's nice to meet you, Colonel.
It hasn't been Colonel
for some time.
I know that, but you'll always
be "Colonel" to me.
Quite a place you have here.
- Oh, yeah. We like it.
- We sure do.
Get you something to eat.
Hamburger, hot dog? Sit down.
Thank you. I can't stay.
Sit down right here.
Are you just passin' through?
I only came to tell you
that war seems inevitable.
Everybody's going back
within 48 hours.
There ain't gonna be no war.
They been prophesyin' doom
for the past 50 years.
It ain't happened yet.
We're not gonna leave here.
We're stayin' right here.
This place
is gonna make us rich.
10,000 rockets
with 100,000 workers comin' here.
They won't come, Sam.
They won't even get the chance.
Oh, they'll come, and we'll
be ready for 'em when they do.
Two main highways
intersecting right here.
The minerals out there...
gold and uranium and diamonds.
There'll be trucks rolling by here
24 hours a day.
I hope you're right.
I'm right, you can bet on it.
I have to be going.
Thanks for thinkin' of us.
You know you stay here
at your own risk,
but if you change your mind,
be in town in the morning.
We won't change our mind.
They'll be comin', ya hear?!
They're comin'.
It's so quiet.
Won't be for long.
Probably won't even be able
to sleep at night.
What is "hmm"
supposed to mean?
It means that I don't trust
those people on Earth.
Well...
I'll believe it when I see
the rockets coming.
They'll be comin'.
100,000 hungry mouths.
If there's no atomic war.
Honey, there ain't gonna
be no war.
We're gonna be rich.
Am I right? Am I?
My God!
Mr. Parkhill,
I've come to speak to you.
A Martian!
I've come
for an important reason.
This is for you.
Hit the dirt!
This isn't a gun.
Yeah? How do you know that?
Look. It's got
some kind of writing on it.
He was just tryin'
to give you a message.
How was I
supposed to know that?
What if it
had've been a weapon?
Put it down.
You better go get the shovel.
Go on. Get the shovel.
- Eat, eat.
- I can't.
Honey bear, I'm so sorry
about what happened.
I really am.
But when he pulled
that thing on me,
I thought it was a weapon.
- I did.
- I know. Yeah.
Besides, there weren't
supposed to be any Martians left.
That's what the Colonel told me.
Oh, he wanted to meet one
so badly.
Who finally gets
to meet one? Me.
And what do I do?
I shoot him.
Her? It?
Who knows what it was?
There wasn't even any body.
What kind people are they,
anyway?
I thought they were all wiped out
with the plague.
They've been hidin'
all these years.
It served him right,
jumpin' up on me like that...
- Sam!
- Surprisin' me.
- What?
- Look.
My heavenly day!
There ain't
no more sand ships left.
I bought the last one
at an auction!
There they are!
There they are.
- Let's get out of here!
- What for?
They're comin' to kill us,
that's what for! Come on!
Damn, I never finished
fixin' it!
- Now what?
- The sand ship.
- What?!
- Come on!
No, I'm not riding in that thing.
I am not letting you drive me
in that thing.
- I can do it.
- No!
Are you gonna stand here
and let 'em kill us?!
Maybe they won't kill us.
Elma, I just killed one of them.
What do you think
they're gonna do?
They killed
our first two expeditions.
Come on, woman!
Do you even know
how this thing works?
It just works!
That's all. You see?
- You got a rope.
- You don't know.
There goes the sail!
Wait a minute! Wait!
There we go!
Oh, my God,
they're closin' in on us!
Come on, you thing, go!
Get outta here!
- What are you doing?
- What do you think I'm doin'?
I'm fightin' for our very lives,
that's what I'm doin'.
Got one. You see that?
I got one.
Help me steer this thing for me.
- I can't!
- Come on up here.
They got us!
Honey, they're all around us!
I'm afraid
we're just gonna be killed, honey.
- Earth man.
- It was all a mistake.
I thought your friend
had a weapon...
- Pick up your weapon.
- What?
Pick up your weapon.
- Put it away.
- Yes, sir.
Take this.
What is it?
Take it.
You hold a grant
to all of the territories
from the Silver Mountains
to the Blue Hills.
From the Dead Salt Sea
to the distant valleys
of moonstone and emerald.
Maybe, maybe...
that may be half of Mars.
It is yours.
Did you see what he give me?
I see.
Thank you very much, sir.
I appreciate it.
I don't know what to say.
We leave you now. Prepare.
Tonight is the night.
This land is yours.
I own half of Mars.
Do you realize that, Elma?
I own half of Mars!
Yeah.
I can't figure out
why they didn't kill us.
Tonight. He said tonight.
That must be it. Sure!
The rockets are comin'.
- 10,000 rockets...
- There it is.
What?
Earth.
- Let me look. Earth?
- Yeah.
There you are,
you beautiful Earth.
Hello, you great big green
wonderful Earth!
Send me your teemin' masses,
your hungry, starvin' millions.
Sam Parkhill will be ready
and waitin' for you.
Hamburgers fryin',
hot dogs broilin', chili cookin',
onions peeled and sliced,
buns warmin' and coffee perkin'!
Come on, you beautiful Earth!
What is it?
Okay now...
let's turn on the lights,
switch on the music,
open the door...
get those hot dogs broilin'.
This is a perfect spot for a cafe.
Two main highways intersecting.
Out there... mineral deposits.
Trucks goin' by 24 hours a day.
All those hungry men.
Hey, Sam, I wanna let you in
on a little secret.
It looks like
it's gonna be an off season.
A million years in the future. a million light years away. some civilization will perceivea brief flicker in the heavens. Will they know us...
that what we hadwas worth preserving? No. A falling star. Perhaps. and their telescopes will continueto gaze into the universe. But we will be gone. This town is dead. except for Ben Driscoll.
Is this a recording?
There is somebodyleft on Mars.
I'll be right there.
Oh, my!
I want you to pack
everything of value,
everything you think
we might need.
Tell the children to do the same.
Load it in the boat.
I'll be back in a while.